Teachers salaries delayed due to confusions

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 09, 2018: Nearly 500 teachers working under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) in government primary and secondary schools in Bantwal and Belthangady taluks of Dakshina Kannada have been working without salary for three months.

While the government attributed this to a technical glitch, affected teachers rue that the problem has not been rectified by the concerned even after 100 days.

The State government releases funds for taluk panchayat-wise under different heads of accounts of SSA and RMSA based on the link document submitted by panchayats. There was interchange in grants released for Bantwal and Belthangady taluks, admitted Finance Department in its order on May 31. While Belthangady Taluk Panchayat received Rs. 61.26 crore, the Bantwal Taluk Panchayat received Rs. 44.61 crore.

The interchange of grants for Bantwal and Belthangady has affected nearly 500 teachers working under the two programmes in the two taluks. Bantwal Taluk has more teachers compared to Belthangady. “What has been released for us will meet the expenses of two months only. If the available amount is released, then we have to wait for the release of funds in the second quarter of the year,” said a teacher from Bantwal, who is among the 200 teachers from Bantwal fighting since 100 days to obtain the correct amount.

“The government has to set right the mistake and release appropriate grants,” he said.

The Finance Department said that there was difference in grants released in some other districts too. The Finance Department had said that it will adjust the shortfall or excess amount so released with grants to be released in the second and third quarters of the year.

Mix up :  Deputy Director of Public Instruction Y. Shivaramaiah said that the interchange has caused shortfall of funds under SSA in the Bantwal Taluk while there was shortfall under RMSA in Belthangady Taluk. This was the reason for the delay in the release of salary.

Mr. Shivaramaiah said that the issue has been brought to the notice of Principal Secretary to the Government, Primary and Secondary Education Department. “We are hopeful of resolution of the problem in the next few days,” he said.